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Fifth Annual Power 50

In times of upheaval, power changes hands fast. It's no surprise, then, that two of our 10 names this year are new entries. Or that one -- Apple's Tim Cook -- rockets to the top of the list. TV and the internet remain fertile ground for LGBT talent and power to flourish, with five more of our group coming from talk shows, news programs, or tablet launches (Ellen DeGeneres, Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, new entry Shepard Smith and Barry Diller). As always, the positions were determined by a range of factors, including power to influence cultural and social attitudes, political clout, individual wealth, and a person's media profile.

1. TIM COOK: COO/ACTING CEO, APPLE, 50

Each time Steve Jobs takes medical leave it’s Cook—“soft-spoken [and] intensely private,” to quote The New York Times -- who steps up to lead the world’s most valuable tech firm. While it is Jobs’s prescience that has kept the Cupertino, Calif., company at the cutting edge of technology, it’s Cook who made sure Apple could deliver as demand rocketed. Leader-in-waiting? Most definitely. New entry

16. NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: ACTOR, 37

The accolades continue to come in for new father Harris, who won an Emmy last year for his guest spot on Glee and will receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this year. Apart from stealing the show on How I Met Your Mother, he directed a production of Rent at the Hollywood Bowl, starred in a New York Philharmonic production of Company, and there's talk of him returning to Broadway to headline the revival of Barnum. Previously 7th

32. JEREMY BERNARD: WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL SECRETARY, 49

The former senior adviser to the U.S. ambassador in Paris, Bernard was tapped by Michelle Obama in February to organize all White House social events, making him the first man -- and the first gay person -- to land the position. Bernard will oversee the guest lists of literally hundreds of galas this year, ensuring that bigwig politicos are full and happy (and that no Real Housewives sneak in). Whether it's a state dinner or a bill signing, it goes through this gatekeeper. Previously 31st in 2009

17. JANN WENNER: PUBLISHING MAGNATE, 65

In an age when pundits say print magazines have no weight, Wenner's Rolling Stone set the world alight with the now-famous General McChrystal interview last year. The piece embarrassed a president, cost the general his job, and arguably shifted the focus of the war in Afghanistan. Previously 16th

33. CHUCK WOLF: CEO, THE VICTORY FUND, 49

The Victory Fund's maxim is simple: by electing members of the LGBT community into governmental offices, the political dialogue will be altered and the interests of gay citizens will be given the consideration they deserve. President and CEO of the political action committee since 2003, the tenacious and enterprising activist is paving the way for our future equality. New entry

When Oprah appeared as a guest on her 1,000th show in May 2009, the queen of daytime all but passed the torch to Ellen, a role she's readily embraced. Judging American Idol wasn't quite the right fit for DeGeneres last year, but she compensated by launching her own music label, eleveneleven, and signing artists including Jessica Simpson. Previously 1st

18. ANTHONY ROMERO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACLU, 45

The first gay man to serve as the director of the ACLU, Romero was dubbed the champion of civil rights by Time magazine. In the last 12 months Romero has overseen the ACLU's landmark lawsuit challenging Arizona's anti-immigrant law, which encourages police to engage in racial profiling, and stood up to and won against a Mississippi school district that refused to let Constance McMillen, a lesbian high-schooler, bring a female date to her prom. Previously 24th

34. NICK DENTON: CEO, GAWKER MEDIA, 44

In the old days Nick Denton went out of his way to avoid interviews, letting the success of his online empire speak for him. No longer. A rash of recent profiles -- in New York, The New Yorker, and most recently The Atlantic -- have sought to understand what makes the new-media maverick tick. A major redesign of his sites switched off swaths of regulars, but Denton is in this for the long haul and won't let a road bump deter him from redefining the rules of journalism, whether you're with him or not. Previously 34th

3. ANDERSON COOPER: JOURNALIST/NEWS ANCHOR, 43

As our most palpably compassionate witness to history, Cooper has had to endure some tough assignments this year. First, in February, he was punched in the head by pro-Mubarak stooges in Cairo; then, in March, he was forced to flee Fukushima in Japan over radiation fears -- gripping TV that pushed his CNN show, AC360, to a near ratings tie with Fox kingpin Bill O'Reilly. All that, and the wily fox still made time for Vanity Fair's annual Oscar party -- in the company of boyfriend Benjamin Maisani, no less. Previously 3rd

19. DAVID GEFFEN: BILLIONAIRE PHILANTHROPIST, 68

Age isn't diminishing Geffen's influence: There was a pre-Grammy Gala and Salute to Industry Icons in his honor earlier this year, and his estimated net worth of $5.1 billion, plus a pledge reported in Forbes to donate any monies he makes to charity, keep him a player. Previously 18th

35. ROBERT HANSON: GLOBAL PRESIDENT, LEVIS, 48

A GLAAD honoree last year, Hanson has helped channel Levi's significant corporate funding toward HIV/AIDS and LGBT programs, such as New York City's Hetrick-Martin Institute. And as head of the world's most iconic denim brand, he's been instrumental not only in steering the company through a turbulent economy, but in growing it at the same time. Previously 37th

4. RACHEL MADDOW: TV HOST/POLITICAL COMMENTATOR, 38

With more than a million nightly viewers (up 34% from last year), Maddow displays a quick, mischievous wit and finely honed BS detector that have turned her into a natural target for the Right. After attacking Wisconsin governor Scott Walker for trying to strip public employees of their bargaining rights, she received a torrent of personal abuse but chose to take the high road in reply: 'Just because you don't like the way it sounds when I say it or you don't like my haircut or you don't like that I'm gay, it does not mean that what we say is not true.' Previously 4th

20. PEREZ HILTON: BLOGGER, 33

Once infamous for using his gossip site to out celebrities and doodle droplets of DNA across starlets' mug shots, Hilton took to the stage of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011 to publicly pledge a sloughing of his bad-boy ways. The blogger made good on his promise and soon after teamed up with Dan Savage to transform the It Gets Better antibullying campaign from a viral phenom into a full-fledged political movement. Previously 26th

When the labor activist assumed the helm last May, Henry became the first woman ever to lead the 2.2 million-member SEIU. Though a flagging economy has trimmed union membership, the group is still a major force in Democratic politics: It spent $44 million on various senate and governors' races in 2010 alone. New Entry

5. BARNEY FRANK: CONGRESSMAN, 71

Frank easily won reelection at the close of 2010, though he lost his chairmanship of the House Financial Services Committee as the balance of power shifted to the Republicans. His combative, often outspoken style keeps him in the headlines, and he remains a force to be reckoned with. Previously 2nd

21. ANDREW SULLIVAN: JOURNALIST/BLOGGER, 47

Though he can be irascible, mercurial, and self-aggrandizing, Sullivan is nevertheless one of our most dynamic thinkers and writers. Along with Evan Wolfson (number 48) he can rightly be considered a gay-marriage evangelist who popularized the idea long before it gained mainstream traction. His move from The Atlantic to Tina Brown's Daily Beast'Newsweek 'adventure' (his word) potentially gives him an even greater platform. Previously 31st

37. KEN MEHLMAN: ACTIVIST, 44

As a campaign manager for George W. Bush's 2004 reelection, Mehlman drew the ire of gay activists who accused him of helping to amplify homophobic sentiment. Last year he finally came out -- the most senior Republican ever to do so -- and committed himself to overturning Proposition 8 in California. Not everyone is impressed by this road-to-Damascus conversion, but there's no doubting his skills. As Rachel Maddow told Out last fall, 'Whatever it is Ken Mehlman wants to do, he's probably going to get it done.' New entry

6. SHEPARD SMITH: FOX NEWS ANCHOR, 47

The Mississippi native, whose nightly Fox Report With Shepard Smith has won its time slot for more than 100 consecutive months, has been with Fox News since its 1996 inception. His loyalty paid off in 2007 when he signed a three-year contract estimated at $7'8 million per year, renewing it again in 2010 for another three years. New entry

22. TIM GILL: SOFTWARE ENTREPRENEUR/ACTIVIST, 57

The Quark founder's second act as an LGBT political activist began in 1994 when he started the Gill Foundation and later the Gill Action Fund, which was successful in ousting 56 out of its 68 targeted antigay officials in the 2006 election. Last year, Gill provided the seed funding for Fight Back New York, which successfully led to the defeat of three state senators who opposed marriage equality. Previously 14th

38. NATE BERKUS: INTERIOR DESIGNER/TALK SHOW HOST, 39

Berkus traded in the sure-thing safety of Oprah's cushy television nest for his own daytime talk show last fall, and though the fate of it has yet to be determined, he managed to win himself an impressive 1.1 household metered-market rating during his first two weeks out of the gates. Previously 21st in 2008

7. PETER THIEL: VENTURE CAPITALIST/HEDGE FUND MANAGER, 43

The PayPal cofounder invested $500,000 in Facebook in 2004. The worth of his share now? Close to $2 billion. And while his hedge fund, Clarium Capital, has dwindled from $7 billion in assets to about $1.5 billion, Thiel still manages to pour big bucks into his esoteric projects, including supporting life extension and artificial intelligence. He hosted conservative gay rights group GOProud and Ann Coulter in his New York City apartment last September and, in a hugely controversial move, has offered to pay 20 students $100,000 to drop out of college and start their own business. Previously 21st

23. CHRISTINE QUINN: SPEAKER OF THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL, 44

The first woman and first openly gay person to hold this plum political position, Quinn continues to speak her mind on hot-button issues like the proposed '9/11 mosque' and her quest to see gay marriage legalized in the Empire State. This year she went so far as to request that the city clerk's office inform same-sex couples that they can legally wed in other states -- and have their marriage recognized in New York -- when they apply for domestic partnerships. Previously 23rd

39. MATT DRUDGE: BLOGGER, 44

The pioneering news-blogging giant killer took on the traditional media and redefined the art of commentary. His site ain't pretty, and to many, neither are his right-wing politics, but his influence, while not what it used to be, remains formidable. As of this year, he's started tweeting too. Previously 15th

8. BARRY DILLER: CHAIRMAN, IAC, 69

Yes, he was responsible for Grease and Saturday Night Fever while chairman of Paramount in the 1970s, but Diller's talents didn't end there. His relentless ambition has raised his fortune to $1.2 billion, and though he stepped down as CEO of his Internet company IAC last December, it was only to devote more time to his latest venture: the Daily Beast'Newsweek merger. Previously 6th

24. ANDY COHEN: TELEVISION IMPRESARIO, 42

We can thank master puppeteer Cohen for addictive reality series like Top Chef, The Millionaire Matchmaker, and the ubiquitous Real Housewives. This past year the producer added three more zip codes to the juggernaut franchise (bringing in ladies from Miami, D.C., and Beverly Hills), and as 'the face of Bravo' he now seems inescapable himself, hosting the Housewives reunion specials and his late-night talk show, Watch What Happens Live, in between trash-talking P.S. 22 fifth-graders. New entry

40. DAN SAVAGE: WRITER/ACTIVIST, 46

The popular sex columnist makes the Power 50 for the first time thanks to his tremendously successful Its Gets Better campaign, launched with his partner, Terry Miller, last September after the suicide of 15-year-old Billy Lucas, a victim of bullying. Six months later the campaign had elicited 9,000 videos, including one recorded by President Obama, and another by Hillary Clinton. Although the approach has dissenters (who have argued that the message is na've and specious) it continues to touch lives around the world, and underscores the power of social media to reach into homes and communities beyond the scope of traditional media. New entry

9. JOE SOLMONESE: PRESIDENT, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, 46

Often pilloried by grassroots activists who feel that the HRC, the largest LGBT organization in the country, is too cozy with politicians, Solmonese can take deserved credit for the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell,' and to a lesser extent for helping persuade the Obama administration to stop defending the constitutionality of the heinous Defense of Marriage Act. Previously 8th

25. SUZE ORMAN: FINANCIAL ADVISER/TALK SHOW HOST, 59

This year Orman's already cash-fat empire grew even fatter with the addition of a book, a new show alongside Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz on OWN that peddles her trademark brand of no-nonsense financial advice, and a slew of appearances including an awe-inspiring, if not cringe-worthy, chiding of the Octomom's dollar dumb-dumbs on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Previously 27th

10. RICH ROSS: CHAIRMAN, WALT DISNEY STUDIOS, 48

At the helm of the world's most famous movie studio, Ross has tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the way America views itself. If early indications are anything to go by -- the studio has signed on to projects with left-field directors like Guillermo del Toro and David Fincher -- he's already moving the needle in the right direction. Previously 12th

26. ANNISE PARKER: MAYOR OF HOUSTON, 54

The first openly gay mayor of a city with more than 1 million residents (Houston is the fourth most populous in the U.S.), Parker assumed her post in 2010. The mother of three and former software analyst served as Houston's comptroller from 2004 till 2009. New entry

11. TAMMY BALDWIN: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR WISCONSIN'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, 49 DAVID CICILLINE: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR RHODE ISLAND'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, 49 JARED POLIS: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FOR COLORADO'S SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, 36

The first openly gay woman to serve in the House of Representatives and the cofounder and cochair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus (with 90 members), Baldwin continues her ardent campaign to win equal rights for LGBT Americans. In March, Polis (whose estimated personal worth exceeds $100 million) reintroduced the 2010 Student Nondiscrimination Act to defend LGBT schoolchildren from discrimination and prohibit schools from ignoring harassing behavior. Former Providence mayor Cicilline became the fourth openly gay member of Congress in January and in March, along with Baldwin, Polis, and Barney Frank, reintroduced the Respect for Marriage Act in an attempt to repeal DOMA. Previously 9th (Baldwin); 10th (Polis); new entry (Cicilline)

27. BRYAN LOURD & KEVIN HUVANE: MANAGING PARTNERS OF CAA, 51 AND 52

As the agents of record for top-tier clients like Jennifer Aniston, Tom Cruise, Oprah, Madonna, and George Clooney, Lourd and Huvane not only steer the careers of many of Hollywood's biggest power players, they also get to take 10% of their earnings. Previously 33rd

12. MARC JACOBS: FASHION DESIGNER, 48

The world's most bankable designer shows no sign of slipping. He ended last year with a certain Bang and began this year with another. His much-lauded fetish-inspired collection for Louis Vuitton closed with a cigarette-smoking Kate Moss sauntering down the runway in kinky hot pants and lace-up boots. Previously 11th

28. CHAD GRIFFIN: POLITICAL STRATEGIST, 37

In August 2010, the American Foundation for Equal Rights (cofounded by Griffin) won the verdict overturning Proposition 8. The appeal could take years to reach the Supreme Court, and until then the judgment stays, but the victory was a vital milestone. Previously 29th

13. SCOTT: RUDIN: FILM AND THEATER PRODUCER, 52

Rudin continued his tradition of box office and awards show gold this year, producing films including The Social Network, True Grit, and the upcoming Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and Broadway shows A Behanding in Spokane, The Book of Mormon, and The House of Blue Leaves. Previously 20th

29. MARTHA NELSON: EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, TIME INC., 58

Christmas came early for Nelson, when at the beginning of December she was bumped to the number 2 spot at Time Inc. Formerly head of the division that includes People, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, and Essence, she now heads all of Time Inc.'s fashion, lifestyle, and entertainment titles. Previously 39th

14. RYAN MURPHY: WRITER-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER, 45

This year Glee, Ryan Murphy's scripted show choir juggernaut, wasn't just the gayest thing on the airwaves -- it was the biggest. In January it nabbed three Golden Globes including Best Television Series -- Musical or Comedy, and songs from the show's soundtracks broke Billboard records once held by legends like the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Still, the lackluster Eat, Pray, Love and a very public war of words with rock band Kings of Leon over their refusal to be conscripted into the Glee army hit noticeably low notes. New entry

30. GREG BERLANTI: TELEVISION WRITER AND PRODUCER, 38

After five years at ABC/Touchstone creating and/or shepherding four shows including Brothers & Sisters and No Ordinary Family, Berlanti has inked a four-year, eight-figure deal with Warner Bros. to create film and television projects. He recently completed Green Lantern, The Flash, and their upcoming Clash of the Titans sequel and will migrate production of his existing television projects over to Warner Bros. as well. Previously 47th in 2009

15. TOM FORD: FASHION DESIGNER/FILM DIRECTOR, 49

Since he left Gucci in 2004, Ford's restless energy has seen the designer launch his eponymous line of menswear, an ever-expanding fragrance range, and his movie debut, A Single Man, for which Colin Firth won a Golden Globe (and should have won an Oscar). Ford has now set his sights on the much more lucrative'and competitive'world of women's fashion. His first collection was shown to a select audience last fall and immediately heralded by Cathy Horyn in The New York Times as a 'full-on glamour assault.' Previously 13th

31. RICHARD BERKE: NATIONAL EDITOR, NEW YORK TIMES, 52

There are plenty of gay editors and writers at the paper of record, but keep a close eye on Mr. Berke, whose promotion to national editor last year gives him an agenda-setting role in the run-up to next year's presidential election. Previously 22nd

48. EVAN WOLFSON: FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, FREEDOM TO MARRY, 54

The Brooklyn-born civil rights attorney takes no small amount of credit for turning the tide of public opinion in favor of marriage equality. In addition to arguing before the Supreme Court in Boy Scouts of America et al v. Dale, he has been hugely instrumental in changing state laws in favor of civil unions, including in Vermont and Hawaii. New entry

49. LISA CHOLODENKO: WRITER/DIRECTOR, 46

Her critically acclaimed family dramedy, The Kids Are All Right, may not have snagged Cholodenko an Oscar, but the director did net four Academy Award nominations, a Golden Globe win, and an HBO television deal for her troubles. (The movie, which starred Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as a lesbian couple, was also the highest-grossing indie of 2010.) Cholodenko is now at work on her next film, The Abstinence Teacher, based on the book by Tom Perrotta. New entry

50. ARIEL FOXMAN: EDITOR, INSTYLE

For its millions of subscribers, InStyle is their BFF, dishing out style and beauty advice and providing an inside scoop on the lives of the famous. Ad revenues have rebounded spectacularly since the economic slump of 2008, and on the newsstand -- a critical measure of success -- it remains the number 1 selling magazine within its category. Foxman, who had earlier stints at Details and The New Yorker, and helmed the troubled men's style mag Cargo during its brief life, oversees the gigantic operation, while keeping a close watch on its 16 international editions. New entry

41. ADAM MOSS: EDITOR IN CHIEF, NEW YORK, 53

He brought a so-so magazine roaring back to life, spawned a legion of copycats, and scooped up armloads of awards for his efforts. His latest, and greatest, coup? Persuading New York Times titan Frank Rich to abandon the Old Gray Lady for his spunky title. Previously 40th

42. CHRISTINE VACHON: MOVIE PRODUCER, 49

The brilliant producing mind behind Far From Heaven, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Boys Don't Cry spent much of the past year toiling on Dustin Lance Black's What's Wrong With Virginia? and HBO's ambitious five-part miniseries Mildred Pierce, which is sure to have her busy next awards season. Previously 40th in 2008

43. ADAM LAMBERT: MUSICIAN, 29

With American Idol little more than a memory for Lambert, the singer's 2009 debut album still managed to garner more than 800,000 sales, thanks in large part to singles like 'Whataya Want From Me' and 'If I Had You.' Whether fans will be around to gobble up his self-proclaimed 'less camp' sophomore album when it drops later this year is another matter. Previously 5th

44. JOHN COOPER: DIRECTOR, SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, 54

Cooper's first year as director of Sundance (2010) introduced Oscar favorites The Kids Are All Right, Winter's Bone, and Blue Valentine to the film world -- not a bad start. In his second year, Cooper's balance of big-name features and critically heralded small-budget films harkened to the festival's 27-year-old roots, keeping it the largest gathering of U.S. independent filmmakers. Previously 45th

45. DUSTIN LANCE BLACK: SCREENWRITER, DIRECTOR, ACTIVIST, 36

His prodigious talents earned him an Oscar for Milk, and he has every chance of scoring a second for his script for Clint Eastwood's biopic of J. Edgar Hoover, starring Leo DiCaprio as the closeted FBI chief. That movie is scheduled for 2012, but in the meantime Black has plenty to keep him occupied, not least in his capacity as a board member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights -- a leading opponent of Proposition 8 -- and the Trevor Project. Previously 30th

46. JODIE FOSTER: ACTRESS, 48

Foster's name can still close a deal in Hollywood, but the two-time Oscar-winner's ability to strike gold at the box office may be tested with her latest movie, The Beaver, and her defense of costar Mel Gibson -- she described him as 'incredibly loving and sensitive' -- has left many of us squirming. Previously 41st

47. JIM NELSON: EDITOR IN CHIEF, GQ, 48

As Vogue's male counterpart, the consistently beautiful GQ has been the reigning men's fashion and lifestyle magazine since its inception as a clothing trade publication in 1931, making its editor in chief, Jim Nelson, Cond' Nast's male Anna Wintour. When his raunchy cover of Glee's Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron, and Lea Michele brought accusations of pedophilia from the Parents Television Council, Nelson decided the best defense was offense: 'These 'kids' are in their 20s,' he retorted. 'I think they're old enough to do what they want.' Previously 46th

In times of upheaval, power changes hands fast. It's no surprise, then, that two of our 10 names this year are new entries. Or that one -- Apple's Tim Cook -- rockets to the top of the list. TV and the internet remain fertile ground for LGBT talent and power to flourish, with five more of our group coming from talk shows, news programs, or tablet launches (Ellen DeGeneres, Anderson Cooper, Rachel Maddow, new entry Shepard Smith and Barry Diller). As always, the positions were determined by a range of factors, including power to influence cultural and social attitudes, political clout, individual wealth, and a person's media profile.